Tinubu lauds Super Eagles spirit as they arrive Nigeria

• President Tinubu expects CAF to hold those responsible for the distressing ordeal accountable
• The Libyan Football Federation has denied any intentional wrongdoing and cites logistical challenges
• Sports Minister John Enoh likened the incident to an “almost hostage” situation

President Bola Tinubu has expressed immense pride in the team spirit displayed by the Super Eagles following their distressing experience in Libya. 

After enduring over 12 hours stranded at a Libyan airport, the Nigerian football team and officials returned home safely to Kano on Monday evening, October 14. The president, visibly moved by their ordeal, praised the team's unbreakable spirit during what he described as an “inhuman treatment.”

In a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development for their swift intervention in securing the team’s return. He also called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and ensure that appropriate actions are taken.

“President Tinubu expects the Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those who wilfully violated the organisation’s Statutes and Regulations,” the statement read. 

The Super Eagles found themselves stranded at a Libyan airport for more than half a day, sparking outrage after photos emerged showing players and officials sleeping on benches. 

Nigerian football authorities were very quick to condemn the incident, with the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, describing it as an “almost hostage” scenario. He confirmed that the team would not proceed with the match due to the trauma and psychological impact.

“To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday!” Enoh stated.

“Our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team. With the events of the past hours, their safety is not guaranteed, and the team insists they’re unable to go ahead with the match not just because of the trauma and consequent psychological torture but also because of fear for their safety.”

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has however denied any intentional wrongdoing, claiming that their own team experienced similar delays during their trip to Nigeria for the first leg of the match.

“There are no grounds to accuse the Libyan security teams or the Libyan Football Federation of deliberately orchestrating this incident. Such actions are inconsistent with our values and principles,” the Libyan Football Federation said.

CAF responded by assuring that an investigation would be conducted to get to the root of the issue.

“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations,” CAF stated.

Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya

Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya. 

This decision follows a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.